PREreview of Ten simple rules for successful and sustainable African research collaboration.docx

While the Ten Simple Rules for Successful and Sustainable African Research Collaboration provide a framework for effective collaboration, it's important to acknowledge some limitations, loopholes, and possible risks associated with these rules. These include:

1. Implementation challenges: Translating these rules into practice may face obstacles due to limited resources, infrastructure, and funding in some African countries. Adequate support and investment are necessary to overcome these challenges.

2. Unequal power dynamics: Collaborations may involve partners from different regions or institutions, leading to potential power imbalances. It's crucial to ensure that all collaborators have equal opportunities to contribute, make decisions, and benefit from the collaboration. Collaborations with partners from more developed countries or institutions can result in unequal power dynamics, where decision-making and resource allocation may be skewed. This can lead to limited agency and influence for African researchers.

3. Lack of enforcement mechanisms: While the rules propose ethical guidelines and data management plans, the lack of enforceability or monitoring mechanisms may make it difficult to ensure compliance. It's important to establish oversight and accountability measures to address any breaches of the rules.

4. Limited local ownership: While involving local investigators is encouraged, there is a risk of tokenism or limited local ownership in the research process. It's essential to promote genuine collaboration and capacity-building opportunities for local researchers to maximize the impact and sustainability of the collaboration.

5. Ethical considerations: The rules highlight the importance of ethical approvals, but there can still be variations in ethical standards across different African countries. Harmonizing ethical guidelines and ensuring rigorous ethical review processes are critical to protect the interests and rights of study participants.

6. Data security and privacy: The rules emphasize data sharing and management, but it's essential to address data security and privacy concerns. Collaborators must ensure that data is shared securely and in compliance with relevant data protection regulations to safeguard sensitive information.

7. Cultural and contextual differences: Collaboration across different cultures and regions can present challenges in terms of communication, work styles, and understanding research practices. Sensitivity to cultural nuances and effective communication strategies are necessary to navigate these differences and foster successful collaborations.

8. Limited inclusivity: While the rules aim to address the underrepresentation of researchers from developing countries, there is a risk that certain marginalized groups within Africa may still face barriers to participation. Efforts should be made to promote inclusivity, diversity, and equal opportunities for all researchers.

9. Dependency on external collaborations: While collaborations with non-African partners can bring benefits, there is a risk of perpetuating dependency on external resources and expertise. Encouraging intra-African collaborations and strengthening local research capacity are vital for long-term sustainability.

10. Political and institutional challenges: Research collaborations can be influenced by political factors and institutional dynamics, which may impact the implementation and sustainability of the rules. Collaboration should navigate these challenges and work towards creating an enabling environment for research.

11. Institutional support: Inadequate institutional support, including administrative and technical assistance, may impede the implementation of the rules and hinder the progress of collaborative research projects.

12. Sustainability and long-term funding: Sustaining collaborative research efforts over time and securing long-term funding can be challenging, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Dependence on short-term funding may hinder the longevity of collaborations.

Addressing these limitations and risks requires ongoing dialogue, stakeholder engagement, and commitment to continuous improvement in research collaboration practices in Africa.

Competing interests

The author declares that they have no competing interests.